Laptops have become the most utilized workstations in business. Laptops are great, but their batteries are seemingly getting worse all the time. This is influenced by several factors, and it can vary significantly depending on the specific model and usage patterns, but we thought we’d go through some of the reasons why laptops seem to die quickly. 

Battery Capacity

The obvious answer is that the capacity of the laptop battery plays a crucial role in determining how long it can power the device. A lot of times, smaller and thinner laptops often have batteries that aren’t big enough as they aim to maintain a lightweight and portable design.

Power-Hungry Components

Some laptops come equipped with power-hungry components, such as high-performance processors, powerful graphics cards, and ultra high-resolution displays. These components can consume a significant amount of power, sapping the battery life of a device rather quickly.

Background Processes

Background processes and applications running in the background can consume power even when the laptop is not actively in use. This is something that users and IT administrators have to manage effectively. Some examples include running constant updates, pervasive syncing, and the proliferation of background applications that may be resource-intensive.

Screen Brightness

The display is a major contributor to power consumption. Higher screen brightness settings require more power. Additionally, modern laptops often have high-resolution displays, which can also negatively impact battery life. If you want your laptop’s battery to last, it’s best to actively manage your display settings. 

Power Management

Over time, the capacity of a battery naturally degrades. If you have an older laptop, the battery may not hold a charge as well as it did when it was new. Additionally, factors like heat and charging patterns can affect battery health. Often, users don’t optimize their power management settings, but by adjusting settings such as screen brightness and power profiles it can help extend battery life.

Multitasking and Resource Usage

If you are actively using the computer, it is going to ultimately run out of juice quicker when it isn't plugged in. You had to know running 39 browser tabs at once would probably have a negative impact somewhere. Using many resource-intensive applications simultaneously can significantly drain the battery.

If you are constantly looking for a place to plug your laptop in, it may be a sign that it's time for an upgrade. If you would like to have a conversation about improving your team’s mobile workstations, or if you just want to know what laptop to buy, give us a call today at (909) 435-4220.